Although the higher-ranked teams usually win the soccer World Cup, there are often a few shocks and surprises in FIFA’s flagship tournament. The 2026 FIFA World Cup was not an exception in that regard. This was a World Cup that included more minnows than ever before, and some of them rose to the occasion. These were the biggest 2026 FIFA World Cup upsets.
Paraguay pulled off one of the biggest knockout shocks ever witnessed in a FIFA World Cup knockout match by eliminating Germany in the second round of the 2026 tournament. Although the Paraguayans aren’t quite a minnow, they was among the lower-ranked teams in this tournament, up against a historical giant of international soccer. Nor had Paraguay scored a goal in a knockout round of a World Cup before this match.
So, it was quite a big shock when Julio Enciso headed the Paraguayans ahead shortly before halftime. Kai Havertz equalized for the Germans in the 54th minute. A 1-1 stalemate, however, followed, which led to a penalty shootout. Germany’s usual penalty-taking efficiency wasn’t there as Paraguay emerged victorious in the shootout.
Norway was a heavy underdog against five-time World Cup champions Brazil in this quarter-final. Yet, the Viking warriors had some tricks up their sleeve with a low-block game plan that worked wonders against the Brazilians. Erling Haaland scored twice in the second half to put the Norwegians two ahead. A late, late Brazil penalty, duly converted by Neymar, was not enough to prevent one of the biggest 2026 FIFA World Cup upsets, with the final score 2-1 to Norway.
Cape Verde were expected to be one of the whipping boys in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but nobody thrashed them. This group stage match against the pre-tournament favorite Spain was expected to be a Spanish procession. Although Spain did dominate the match statistically, the Cape Verdean goalkeeper, Josimar Dias, saved shot after shot to keep a clean sheet. Consequently, this became one of the biggest 2026 World Cup upsets in the group stage, with the match ending 0-0.
Curacao were another of the 2026 World Cup minnows as a debutant, and this was a team Germany hammered 7-1. When the Curacaoans played an Ecuador side full of players who starred for top European club sides, the La Tri were widely expected to secure a comfortable win. Yet, a heroic goalkeeping performance from Eloy Room secured a first-ever World Cup point for Curacao. He made a record-equalling 15 saves to keep the score 0-0 and secure one of the biggest FIFA World Cup upsets of 2026.
A star-studded Portuguese team was expected to comfortably defeat DR Congo in this group stage clash. The Congolese are a long way down the FIFA World Rankings compared to Portugal, and they had only once played in a World Cup before. Their 1974 campaign (under the name Zaire) had been a disastrous one in which Yugoslavia thrashed them 9-0.
There was, however, no repeat thrashing during this group game in which Congo showed they had got to grips with World Cup soccer. When the Portuguese scored early, this match was seemingly following the script. Yoane Wissa, however, scored the Congolese’s first-ever World Cup goal to equalize. Thereafter, Congo held firm throughout the second half with a compact midfield that disrupted Portugal’s passing lines. The match ended 1-1, which was one of the biggest 2026 FIFA World Cup upsets.
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The expansion of the FIFA World Cup added a bit more romance with more minnows playing in it. While some did get thrashed, minnows like Cape Verde, DR Congo, and Curaçao rose to the occasion by producing three of the biggest World Cup upsets above. More dangerous underdog teams like Norway and Paraguay pulled off shock defeats by slaying World Cup giants Brazil and Germany in the knockout stages.
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